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Serial thief jailed after being snared by 'super recogniser' police unit Serial thief jailed after being snared by 'super recogniser' police unit
(about 3 hours later)
A serial thief who stole more than £100,000 of luxury goods from London boutiques and jewellers has been jailed after he was snared by the Metropolitan police’s “super recognisers”. A serial thief who stole more than £100,000 of luxury goods from London boutiques and jewellers has been jailed after the Metropolitan police’s “super recognisers” snared him.
Austin Caballero, 42, went uncaught for more than two-and-a-half years pilfering jewellery, designer clothing, handbags, high-end cosmetics, sunglasses and even antiques from shops in the capital’s most upmarket areas. Austin Caballero, 42, stole jewellery, designer clothing, handbags, high-end cosmetics, sunglasses and even antiques from shops in the capital’s most upmarket areas for more than two-and-a-half years before he was caught.
However, the shoplifter, who police believe was “under the illusion that he would never be captured”, eventually came to the attention of the Met’s super recogniser unit. The shoplifter, however, who police believe was “under the illusion that he would never be captured”, eventually came to the attention of the Met’s specialist unit.
Poring over dozens of clips, the squad of specialist CCTV analysts spotted the thief, often smartly dressed, boldly committing crimes in shops across London. Poring over dozens of clips, the squad of CCTV analysts spotted the thief, often smartly dressed, committing crimes in shops across London.
On Friday, Caballero, of no fixed address, finally admitted 40 counts of theft at Blackfriars crown court, where he was jailed for nearly four years. On Friday, Caballero, of no fixed address, admitted 40 counts of theft at Blackfriars crown court, where he was jailed for nearly four years.
Between 30 April 2013 and 22 December 2015 he swiped expensive goods from shops in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Camden. Between 30 April 2013 and 22 December 2015 he stole expensive goods from shops in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Camden.
CCTV released by police revealed the extraordinary extent to which the audacious opportunist would go to make a dishonest living. In one clip Caballero was caught grabbing a £9,500 bronze statue before sliding it into his jacket. CCTV released by police revealed the lengths to which Caballero would go. In one clip he was filmed sliding a £9,500 bronze statue into his jacket.
He hit one boutique posing as a respectable customer, only to slip a £580 bottle of beauty cream into his jacket when staff turned their backs. He entered another boutique posing as a respectable customer, only to slip a £580 bottle of beauty cream into his jacket when staff turned their backs.
In another clip Caballero could be seen stuffing three cashmere scarves worth £1,200 into his trousers before resuming his act of an innocent browser. In another clip Caballero was filmed stuffing three cashmere scarves worth £1,200 into his trousers . On another occasion he waited for a jeweller to turn her back before swiftly pocketing two bracelets worth £8,500.
Then on a separate occasion he waited for a jeweller to turn her back before swiftly pocketing two bracelets worth £8,500. After appearing on camera several times he was eventually identified by one of the Met’s officers specially trained to recognise individuals in CCTV footage.
After appearing on camera several times he was eventually identified by one of the Met’s eagle-eyed super recognisers – officers with a sharpened ability to recognise individuals in CCTV footage. In August detectives launched a public appeal to find Caballero and he was arrested on New Year’s Day. DS Eliot Porritt of the super recogniser unit, said: “Caballero has been brazen during his relentless spree of offences.
In August detectives launched a public appeal to find the thief and he was arrested on New Year’s Day. DS Eliot Porritt, of the super recogniser unit, said: “Caballero has been brazen during his relentless spree of offences.
“Given the time period and frequency of offences, I have no doubt that he was under the illusion that he would never be captured.“Given the time period and frequency of offences, I have no doubt that he was under the illusion that he would never be captured.
“My unit scans thousands of images in order to link offenders to their crimes, resulting in a greatly reduced cost to the public of just one court process as opposed to the dozens of separate cases that could have resulted had he not been recognised and linked by my team.”“My unit scans thousands of images in order to link offenders to their crimes, resulting in a greatly reduced cost to the public of just one court process as opposed to the dozens of separate cases that could have resulted had he not been recognised and linked by my team.”
By the time he was arrested the eagle-eyed officers had linked Caballero to 41 offences with CCTV footage and evidence. They included 40 thefts and one count of racially aggravated assault. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for the theft offences and an additional three months for the assault. By the time Cabellero was arrested, the unit’s officers had linked him to 41 offences - 40 thefts and one count of racially aggravated assault.
After failing to attend court over the thefts he was sentenced to a further nine months in prison, although a judge ruled it could be served concurrently. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for the thefts and an additional three months for the assault.
After failing to attend court over the thefts he was sentenced to a further nine months, which the judge ruled could be served concurrently.